Dorchester Court is a development featuring three blocks of flats built around 1960, located in Solihull, B91 1LL
Start Date: 3rd March 2025
End Date: 5th July 2025
Contractor: Chestnutwolf Ltd, David Coleman and Company
Contract Admin: Pennycuick Collins
Project Outline
Each block stands three storeys tall. The construction includes load-bearing brickwork and concrete floors topped with flat roofs that have bitumen waterproof coverings. Cantilevered concrete balconies are present on the rear elevation; which were the focus of this project.
The balconies extend from the floor, creating external terraces equipped with metal balustrades and handrails. These terraces were finished with screed and quarry tiles, which were in a state of significant deterioration. There were signs of carbonation in the concrete and degradation of the screed.
The project outline was to retain the metal balustrade in place while replacing the screed and tile finish with a new Vulkem waterproofing system. The project also addressed repairs to any defective concrete elements, including faces, decks, and soffits. Additionally, the flat roof above each top-floor balcony was recovered as part of the work.
The Solution for Dorchester Court
Dorchester Court is a development featuring three blocks of flats built around 1960, located in Solihull, B91 1LL.
Each block stands three storeys tall. The construction includes load-bearing brickwork and concrete floors topped with flat roofs that have bitumen waterproof coverings. Cantilevered concrete balconies are present on the rear elevation; which were the focus of this project.
The balconies extend from the floor, creating external terraces equipped with metal balustrades and handrails. These terraces were finished with screed and quarry tiles, which were in a state of significant deterioration. There were signs of carbonation in the concrete and degradation of the screed.
The project outline was to retain the metal balustrade in place while replacing the screed and tile finish with a new Vulkem waterproofing system. The project also addressed repairs to any defective concrete elements, including faces, decks, and soffits. Additionally, the flat roof above each top-floor balcony was recovered as part of the work.
The Steps
External Facing Facade
- Apply to the external façade up and to and including the bell drip Vulkem® Quick Coloured Topcoat @ 0.3kg/m². (In colour white/beige).
Balcony Areas
- Apply (using a roller) Vulkem® Quick Concrete/Tile Primer @ 0.4kg/m² to the whole area and lightly broadcast with natural quartz 0.3 – 0.8mm and allow to cure.
- Apply (using a notched trowel/squeegee) a full layer of Vulkem® Quick Membrane @ 2.6kgs/m² (minimum 2mm thickness) over the full concrete Balcony and allow to cure.
- Apply (using a neoprene foam rubber squeegee) Vulkem® Quick Coloured Topcoat @ 0.4kg/m² in grey to all areas including upstands/skirtings and back roll to remove any squeegee lines.
- Fully blind the Topcoat (Item 3 above) with natural quartz 0.3-0.8mm. Sweep off the excess sand after cure of the Topcoat and apply a second coat of Vulkem® Quick Coloured Topcoat @ 0.65kg/m² in grey.
The Products
Fosroc Paveroc
Ready to use, high performance reinstatement mortar for large areas of concrete pavements and floors.
- Long open time – suitable for large areas
- High strength, abrasion and weather resistance
- Excellent bond to the concrete substrate
- Shrinkage compensated
Fosroc Renderoc GP
General purpose cementitious repair mortar (R3) specifically engineered for vertical repair work
- Exceptional system of shrinkage compensation provides long-term dimensional stability
- Frequently obviates the need for formwork
- Extremely low permeability to water, carbon dioxide and chlorides
Fosroc Renderoc FC
Cementitious, polymer modified, fairing coat designed for vertical and overhead use
- Polymer modification provides extremely low permeability to water, carbon dioxide and chlorides
- Excellent bond to concrete
- Can be applied quickly and efficiently
- Use to infill honeycombing and voids up to 3mm deep in the surface of concrete which is not trafficked
Fosroc Nitobond EP
Solvent free epoxy resins containing pigments and fine fillers
- Can be applied to dry or damp surfaces
- High mechanical strength
- Good positive adhesion
- Can be applied where a substrate/ repair barrier is required
- Available in standard and slow set grades
Vulkem Quick
A unique fast curing, solvent free, puma liquid waterproofing system for pedestrian traffic
- Very fast curing: ± 30 minutes per layer and short curing time between layers
- Non temperature dependent application
- High mechanical resistance
- Crack bridging, even below 0°C
- Easy application
- Quick resistance to rain
To download a copy of the Dorchester Court Case Study, click here.